Just Another Day at the Office

If you know me, you know that I don't like to call people.  My amazing wife gets stuck with that duty a lot.  I don't mind talking on the phone, I just don't like to actually call someone, especially someone I don't know.  So today I had to call and talk with two different astronauts.  They were both amazingly nice and wanted to help with the show, but couldn't because of scheduling conflicts.  So even thought it was out of my comfort zone, it was pretty cool to talk to them both.

On the way home from work today, I was driving along and I heard a helicopter.  Not a big occurrence here but it sounded really low.  So I looked out my window and saw not one, not two, but three Marine helicopters.  Yup, the President flew right over me today.  He always flies in a formation of three.

And, last but not least I was home over the weekend for Bryce's music program.  He gets his musical ability from his Mommy and his stage presence from his Mommy also.  I think the gets the goofy gene from me, and it is strong in him.

Started out good.

Dude, why ain't you singin'?

Wow, look at the ceiling! 

Looks good, but they weren't doing the chicken dance.

How many more songs are there?

Oooh, look something over there.

And a cute picture of Sadie!

Thank a Veteran

Today there was a big WWII event at the Udvar-Hazy Center.  There were supposed to be several vintage airplanes flying in as well as a bunch of veterans.  We went out to film some interviews with these heroes.  I was able to talk to several but the last two were amazing.

I'm not sure if they knew each other before today or not, but ran into each other as they were walking in.  They had served in the same company.  The interview became more of a conversation between long lost friends.  When I would ask a question they would both say the other should answer.  They had both served in the infantry in Europe.  One had been under heavy artillery fire, while the other said the V1 missiles were scary because you could hear them coming but the V2's were scarier because you couldn't hear them coming until they hit.  Both had gone to college on the GI bill, one becoming a lawyer and the other getting a Doctorate in science.  Talk about two amazing guys.  When the interview was done and they walked off, I turned around to watch them walk back to their families.  They walked away embracing each other, two long lost friends reunited.

WWII Flyover

Today was one of those days where it still amazes me they are paying me to do this job.  In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of VE Day, there was a flyover with WWII vintage aircraft over the National Mall.  There were over 50 planes, including a B-29 Bomber, the last one that is still flying.  Not only did I get to watch it, but I got to watch it from the roof of the Air and Space Museum.  Other than a scary ladder, it was amazing.  We filmed segments for several upcoming shows.  I am continue to be amazed at how awesome our crew is.  It is because of them we got such great pictures and video today.  Below are a few pictures that were taken today.

Paolo Nespoli

Today I got a chance to hang out with Italian Astronaut Paolo Nespoli.  He was awesome!  He filmed segments for three upcoming shows as well as a couple of different teasers and a show open.  Yup, still hasn't soaked in that I get to hang out with astronauts as part of my job.

Yes, he was fixing my mic!

Normal group picture

Dorky group picture (Beth's idea)

Russian group picture - he pointed out that one of his Russian crew mates never smiled for pictures so we took one like that.

Flight 93 Memorial

I went home over the weekend to get my car to help with the apartment hunt.  Over the last two days I've been driving the 16+ hours back to DC.  Today as I was driving I saw a small sign for the Flight 93 Memorial.  It was only about 20 miles out of the way so I decided to go.  It is really powerful.  Below are a few pictures I took.

The visitors center is still under construction.  The memorial itself is done.  It is a long granite wall that takes you to a white wall with the names of the passengers and crew.  The white wall follows the path of the flight.  In the field beyond the wall is a large boulder that marks the front edge of the crash site.

Stuff You Don't See Everyday

Here are a couple thing I've seen in the last two days that seemed a little out of the ordinary. 

Ketchup for dogs. 

A limo pulling a trailer 

Social Media

STEM in 30 is now on social media.  You can follow us @STEMin30 on Twitter and facebook.com/STEMin30.  Below are a few of the cool things you might see following STEM in 30.

Astronaut Piers Sellers

Filming at the Botanic Garden

The guys with Astronaut Don Thomas

Cherry Blossoms

Last weekend I did the tourist thing (along with 50,000 of my closest friends).  Below are a few of the pictures I took.  You can see the full set on Flickr by following the link.

Flickr Set: https://www.flickr.com/gp/12273435@N03/25r888/ 

Spring Break

**Warning**
Lots of pictures on this post, if reading on Facebook click on the link to see them.

This post is only a few weeks late.  I've had internet issues with my laptop.



A couple weeks ago Sarah and Bryce and Sadie made it out to Washington over Sarah's spring break. We had great weather, we only got snowed on once.  It was a hectic week at work because we had a show, but it was cool that they got to see the production.

Sadie got to see her first panda bear.

Bryce got to do his bird show at the National Zoo and was really excited about seeing Grandpa's Eagle.

 

Sadie was right on the edge of crawling.  We were hoping she would start while they were in Washington.  We tried to get her to crawl at my museum.  She didn't crawl.

During the set up for our show, I had a chance to go up on the catwalks and look out at the Udvar-Hazy Center.  It was scary as snot but I was glad I did it.

During our show most of the big wigs from the museum came over to watch, including our director General Daily.

Bryce got to watch the filming.

Bryce doesn't have a chance of not being a nerd.

Tried to get Sadie to crawl in front of the Space Shuttle.  She didn't crawl.

Yeah, she doesn't have a chance of not being a nerd either.

Bryce got into taking pictures on this trip also.

Flying with the Space Shuttle.

I got artsy at the Botanic Garden.

This look . . . I don't have a chance.

Tried to get her to crawl at the Botanic Garden.  She didn't crawl.

If you know about my history with kites, this will completely make sense.

Bryce flying his kite in the museum.

Pretzel shop a couple of blocks from my apartment.

Giant cupcake

Yup, nerd.

Pretty girl X2

Yup, no chance.

On their last day in town Sadie decided to start crawling, not in any cool or historic place but the bedroom floor of my apartment when there were no cameras rolling, but I got to see her crawl for the first time.